Sign.



L. GOTTS LL.

APPLICATION IIL D A]? .17, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES mmvro G K,WMM J I low/5" 'ofiscf;

L. GOT-TSOHALL.

' SIGN.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FILM, 1913.

1,099,035, Patented June 2,1914" 2 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

IN VE NTUR GXQ M 9 :55am 627mm W ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS GOTTSCIIALL, OF NEW "YORK, N. Y.

SIGN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1 Louis GOTTSCI-IALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sign, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sign more especially designed for use on automobiles and the like to display a license number or other distinguishing marks which can be distinctly read, which are visible at night for a great distance, and which greatly aid the eye of an observer in detecting the number or distinguishing marks as well as aiding the memory in remembering the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practically unlimited number of distinct signs without unduly increasing the length of the sign or using more than five digits in the license number.

For the purpose mentioned use is made of a sign of dihedral shape and comprising two plates standing at an acute angle one relatively to the other, one of the said plates being provided with stenciled characters and a source of light at the opening formed between the spaced ends oi? the said plates. Use is also made of colored bands associated with the stenciled characters on the plates to provide a practically unlimited number of variations in the sign matter.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a face view of the sign as applied to the rear end of an automobile to display a State license number; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the sign-supporting bracketsyFig. 3 is a face view of the reflecting plate of the sign; Fig. 4: is a perspective view of a modified form of the sign; Fig. 5 is a face view of another modified view of the sign; Fig. 6 is a face view of a portion of the sign showing an other modified form; and Fig. 7 is a face view of another modified form of the sign.

The light from the rear automobile lamp shining on a sign of the construction now generally used is not very effective as most Specification of Letters Itatent.

Application filed April 17, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914:.

Serial No. 761,721.

of the rays of light are dissipated. As the slgn is placed back of the lamp the latter cuts off the view of a part of the number when it is situated between the observer and the sign. When the digits of the number are all rendered in the same color it is not diiiicult to catch and retain in ones memory consisting of not nore than three digits even should the automobile be moving rapidly, but the ditiiculty increases with each additional digit in the license number as the monotony of the color confuses the eye of theobserver and gives it no resting place or suggestion of a place at which the large number could be broken up into smaller parts. Furtl'iermore, while the eye catches a small number, which it can cover with. one glance, it can also note at the same time one or more elementary and easily distinguishable colors placed next to the number independently oi the form within which these colors are confined.

The sign illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 2 and 3 is provided with a plate A disposed vertically and supported by horizontally extending brackets 13 and B attached to the rear of the automobile C, as plainly indicated in the drawings. In conjunction with the plate A operates a second plate D connected at the rigl1t-hand end by hinges E with the corresponding end of the plate A so that the plate D is adapted to extend at an acute angle relatively to the plate A, but may be folded upon the back of the latter,

as indicated in dotted lines in F 2. The

plate D is held locked in open position by a bolt 13 engaging the plate D and a lug B on the bracket R. hen the bolt B is removed the plate D can be swung into a closed position and locked therein by the front bolt B and by spring catches D on the lower edge of the plate D engaging the lower edge of the plate A. A source of light F in the form of a lamp is arranged at the opening or space between the spaced ends of the plates A. and D, and this source of light F issupported on a suitable bracket G attached tothe automobile C. The plate A is provided with perforations H representing indicating characters, such as numerals, letters, symbols, geometrical figures and the like, to indicate a license number as hereinafter more fully explained. The inner face of the plate A is coated with a reflecting surface, such as white enamel or the like, and a similar coating may be arranged on the opposite face of the plate D whereby the rays of light emanating from the source of light F and passing to the reflecting sur faces of the plates A and D and then being again reflected from each of these surfaces to the other cause a vivid illumination of the indicating characters H so that the same can be readily distinguished even at the time the automobile is quite a distance away from the observer. It will be understood that as the plates A and D are arranged at an acute angle one relatively to the other, and the source of light is located at the opening between the spaced ends of the said plate, it is evident that the portion remote from the source of light, that is, the portion nearer the hinges E is strongly illuminated owing to the smaller distance the reflected rays of light have to tr vel between the reflecting surfaces of the plates A and D. During the day the source of light F is not used, and then the plate D is swung into closed position and locked therein, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to overlie the inner face of the plate A whereby the reflecting inner surface of the plate D is at the perforations H to cause the same to appear vividly to the observer. Also since the plate A is in front of the lamp F the latter will not obstruct the view of any part of the number either in the daytime or at night. If a number on the plate A consists of more than three digits, the additional digit to the left of the third digit expressing the thousands may be distinguished from the other digits by a colored band I on the inner surface of the plate D directly in the back of the said digits thus relieving the eye from the confusion caused by the monotony of color and at the same time suggesting the natural breaking up of the number into two smaller parts (the one consisting of the thousands and the other of the units) which can be caught by the eye and retained by the memory more easily than the succession of four or five digits all of the same color. As shown in Fig. 1, the license number is 11571, of which the two digits to the left appear green owing to the colored band I being of this color and appearing behind the two left digits 11. Owing to the angle between the plates A and D the colored band I is wider than the space occupied by the digits expressing the thousands, so that these digits appear colored even if the sign is viewed somewhat from the side instead of immediately in the rear of the sign. By placing the colored band I in back of the last two digits of each number (see Fig. 4) instead of the first two, a new additional series of the same number of signs is obtained, each of the signs being distinguished from the corresponding sign of the first series by the location of the colored band on the back plate D. If the color of the band I is, for instance, green and it is designated by its initial letter G the license number of the sign shown in Fig. 1 may be expressed G11571, while that illustrated in Fig. 1 may be expressed 09165G, that is, when the color band is green on the left-hand side the letter G is placed at the beginning of the numher, and when the colored band is at the right-hand side it is placed at the end of the license number. In either of the cases mentioned that part of the front face of the plate A which is directly in front of the colored band I is rendered white (see Figs. 1 and 4) to provide the necessary contrast in the daytime, while the remaining part of the front face of the plate A is colored with a color adopted by each State and which color also provides the necessary con trast for the white figures. By the arrangement described, the highest number to be stenciled on the plate A is reduced to one-half the number of the signs desired. For instance, in the State of New York the number of automobiles is at present about 140,000, which is a number consisting of six digits, but with the arrangement described the highest number to be stenciled will be 70,000, of five digits only. The avoidance of a sixth digit is accomplished in the State of New York by the use of letters of the alphabet as additional identification marks, but said additional marks must be remembered by the observer out of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. By repeating the same numbers with stripes I of different colors a practically unlimited number of signs can be obtained.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 numbers of not more than three digits are employed, and instead of one colored band I two colors are used disposed within a square or any other regular diametrical figure, the latter being divided into four quadrants which are preferably designated by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, as follows: Two easily distinguishable elementary colors are preferably chosen, such as orange and green. By rendering only one of the four quadrants in one of the two colors mentioned variations are obtained. There are six clifferent ways in which the four quadrants may be combined in pairs, namely: 1, 2; 4;, 3; 1, 4c; 1, 3; 2, 4. There are also four different ways of applying the two colors to any of the six pairs, namely: both may be colored with one color or both with the other color, or one with one color and the other with the other color or vice versa, so as to obtain variations. Thus including the case when none of the four quadrants are colored, there are altogether variations. By introducing Os at the beginning of the numbers giving rise to number of the form 07 006; 098; etc, it is possible to provide 1110 numbers, each of not more than three digits. By using the color scheme above described either to the right or to the left of each of these numbers, it is possible to obtain distinct license numbers. By using the initials of the colors in conjunction with the color scheme, as previously mentioned, the license numbers can be expressed as follows: O G l23; 123G,; 346G 0 M0 0 etc., according to the colors and their spaces in the square. It is understood that the colors are placed on the back plate D directly in back of the square H perforated or stenciled in the front plate A, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. In case a State needs more than 73,200 signs, then three colors may be chosen, for instance, orange, green and red, and by coloring not more than two quadrants as before with either one or two out of the three chosen colors it is possible to obtain distinct signs. If a larger number is needed another color is added but not more than two colors appear on the plate. It is evident that by means of this simple device an unlimited number of signs can be obtained, on none of which more than three digits appear, which can be seen at a glance and taking in at the same time one or two colors in the square, as the eye is not burdened with observing the form within which these colors are confined, the form remaining always the same, that is, a quadrant of the regular figure. F or smaller States the fig ures may be simplified. In the State of Connecticut, for instance, there are at pres out 17,000 automobiles, and the signs for this State may be provided with half of a square in conjunction with two colors only, giving rise to variations in the signs.

The length of the sign can always remain the same no matter how large the number of signs desired, for with the increase of the number of signs all that it is necessary to do is to increase the number of colors from which the two colors in question are chosen, but as these two colors are always confined within the figure chosen and the number of digits does not exceed three, the lengths of the signs remain constant.

laving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sign, comprising two plates, one movable relative to the other, the plates in one position standing at an acute angle one relative to the other, and the plates in another position overlying one the other, one of the said plates being provided with perfo rations representing sign matter and both plates in either of the said positions forming active members of the sign, and a source of light so positioned as to be at the opening formed by the spaced ends of the said plates at the time the latter are standing at an angle one relative to the other, and so positioned as to illuminate the opposed faces of the said plates.

2. A sign, comprising two plates, one movable relative to the other, the plates in one position. standing at an acute angle one relative to the other, and the plates in another position overlying one the other, one of the said plates being provided with perforations representing sign inatter and the other plate being provided at its inner face with a colored space opposite sundry of the said perforations, and a source of light so positioned as to be at the opening formed by the spaced ends of the said plates at the time the latte are standing at an angle one relative to the other.

3. A sign, comprising a front plate and a rear plate, the plates being movable one relative to the other, and. the plates in one position standing at an acute angle one relative to the other, and the plates in another position overlying one the other, the front plate having spaced perforations, and the said rear plate having a colored space opposite sundry of the said perforations, a source of light so positioned as to be at the opening formed by the spaced ends of the said plates at the time the latter are in open position, and means to hold the said plates in either of the said open or closed positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS GOT'lSCHALL.

l Vitnesses Ti-ino. G. Hosrna, PHILIP D. Ronnrmus.

(lopies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ",Patents,

Washington, 1). .1. 

